During the International Congress of Speleology, WKU student Gilman Ouellette presented his graduate thesis work on Paleoclimate in Barbados.

Held once every four years, the international meeting hosts researchers, cavers, professionals, students and many others to gather and share the most recent advances in the field of speleology. The summer 2013 event, held in Brno, Czech Republic, included oral and poster presentations, business meetings for international organizations (such as the International Union of Speleology), local fieldtrips, demonstrations of new equipment and technology, mapping and cartography salons, vendor display booths, and many opportunities for social interaction and networking.

A Multiproxy Approach to Reconstructing Paleoenvironmental Conditions from Speleothems in Barbados to Address Groundwater Vulnerability. Gilman Ouellette and Dr. Jason Polk of WKU

In addition to presenting, the team also hosted a booth to recruit new students and promote WKU’s cave and karst program, the Department of Geography and Geology, the Crawford Hydrology Lab, and the Hoffman Institute. The booth was heavily visited by meeting attendees and many alumni, which is a true testament to the international reputation of WKU in the field of speleology.

Members of the WKU group attended the ICS closing banquet.

For many of the student attendees, this was their first international conference experience, which proved to be quite an educational and broadening experience.

“This was my first international conference and I really got a new perspective on how my research fits into a broader context,” said graduate student Dan Nedvidek. “It was helpful to get feedback on my thesis work and has improved my research from this experience.” Working with Dr. Jason Polk, Nedvidek is completing a thesis on stormwater quality monitoring regulations in karst areas like Bowling Green.

Geography and Geology Department Head Dr. David Keeling noted that “presenting research at international conferences not only raises the profile of WKU but also provides faculty and students the opportunity to interact with their peers from across the globe.”